Alexei Volkov
Plastic resins are versatile and widely used in manufacturing, packaging, and countless other applications. They are the backbone of the plastics industry, and understanding the different types of plastic resins is essential to grasp their various uses, properties, and potential impacts on the environment. The world of plastics is vast, with hundreds of different plastic resins, each with unique characteristics and uses. In 1988, the Society of the Plastics Industry introduced a system to categorize plastic resins, and today, we commonly recognize five main categories of plastic resins, with some sources citing seven types. These resins are derived from synthetic and natural sources and are used in a wide range of applications, from food packaging to automotive components.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of different plastic resins | Hundreds |
| Main base | Plastic resins |
| Categories | 7 |
| Examples | Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polyvinyl chloride, Polystyrene, PET, Kynar, Ryton |
| Applications | Manufacturing, packaging, beverage and food containers, textiles, automotive components |
| Recyclability | Recyclability varies across different plastic resins |
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What You'll Learn
- Polypropylene, a hard and sturdy plastic resin, is the second-most produced commodity plastic
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is used for beverage and food containers
- Polystyrene is used for packing material, insulation, and sporting goods
- Polyvinyl Chloride is the world's third-most produced synthetic plastic polymer
- Recycled plastic resin is often used for food packaging and can be reclaimed and moulded into new forms
Polypropylene, a hard and sturdy plastic resin, is the second-most produced commodity plastic
There are several different types of plastic resins, each with unique characteristics, making them suitable for different uses. Polyethylene is the most commonly produced plastic resin, used for packaging applications such as plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, and containers like bottles.
Polypropylene's versatility extends further with two key variants: homopolymer PP and copolymer PP. Homopolymer PP exhibits high heat resistance and good rigidity, making it ideal for industrial applications. On the other hand, copolymer PP, made by incorporating different monomers, is extremely resilient and finds applications in the automotive and industrial sectors.
Another notable variant of polypropylene is the random copolymer, which is created by introducing ethylene links into the polymer chain. This variation possesses improved optical properties, making it suitable for transparent packaging applications.
Despite its many advantages, polypropylene does have some drawbacks. It is prone to oxidation, highly flammable, and sensitive to chlorinated solvents and aromatics. Additionally, not all types of polypropylene can be recycled.
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Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is used for beverage and food containers
Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET, is a widely used plastic resin. It is a chemically stable polyester and one of the most commonly used plastic polymers. Its popularity stems from its lightweight, physical clarity, and remarkable strength. It is also highly valued in the recycling process.
PET is used in a multitude of applications, including food and beverage containers, the manufacture of electronic components, and as fibres in textiles and clothes. In the context of textiles, PET is referred to as polyester. It is also used in packaging films, magnetic tapes, and the manufacture of artificial fibres for textiles.
One of the most common uses of PET is in the manufacture of drinking water bottles and carbonated beverage bottles. PET is suitable for this purpose due to its high strength and toughness, good abrasion and heat resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. It also has lower gas permeation compared to other polymer materials, which helps to improve the shelf life of carbonated beverages.
The use of PET as a packaging material for beverages has gained a very high share of the market in the past decade, increasingly replacing glass bottles, cans, and beverage cartons. Market research institutes predict worldwide growth of almost 4% per year for PET packaging. PET is also used in multilayer beverage containers, incorporating layers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polyamide (PA) to reduce oxygen permeability and protect the beverage.
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Polystyrene is used for packing material, insulation, and sporting goods
There are seven main types of plastic resins, and polystyrene is one of the most versatile. It is used for packing material, insulation, and sporting goods.
Polystyrene is a durable, low-cost plastic with a range of hardness and flexibility. It is often used for packaging and insulation because it can be shaped to fit any product. Polystyrene foam is a common packing material, often seen as those little packing "peanuts" used as a filler for small objects being delivered. It is also used for food packaging and containers, as well as for protecting consumer goods like CD and DVD cases, egg cartons, and meat/poultry trays during shipping. Polystyrene is used for food packaging because it is strong, solid plastic that provides good insulation. It is also valued for its longevity, affordability, and clarity.
Polystyrene is also used for insulation in buildings, appliances, and packaging. It is moisture-resistant, long-lasting, and provides good thermal insulation. Polystyrene board insulation is commonly used in residential and commercial applications. It can be fabricated as plain or jacketed and is available as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). XPS has a higher compressive strength and lower thermal conductivity than EPS, but EPS is more permeable to air and moisture.
Polystyrene is used in sporting goods because it is lightweight, mouldable, and resilient. It is used in equipment for cycling, sailing, racket sports, and jet skis.
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Polyvinyl Chloride is the world's third-most produced synthetic plastic polymer
Polyvinyl Chloride, commonly known as PVC, is the world's third-most-produced synthetic plastic polymer. It was one of the first plastics to be discovered and is still one of the most widely used. About 40 million tonnes of PVC are produced annually, with China accounting for approximately half of the world's production capacity.
PVC is derived from salt (57%) and oil or gas (43%). It was first synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann, who noticed a white solid inside a flask of vinyl chloride that had been left in the dark for several weeks. In the early 20th century, Russian chemist Ivan Ostromislensky and German chemist Fritz Klatte attempted to use PVC in commercial products, but they faced challenges due to the material's rigidity and brittleness.
In 1926, Waldo Semon and the B.F. Goodrich Company developed a method to plasticize PVC by blending it with additives such as dibutyl phthalate. This made PVC more flexible and easier to process, paving the way for its widespread use. Today, PVC is produced mainly through suspension polymerization (80%), with smaller proportions produced through emulsion polymerization (12%) and bulk polymerization (8%).
PVC has a unique set of properties that make it a versatile material. It is durable, lightweight, strong, and fire-resistant, with excellent insulating capabilities and low permeability. These characteristics, along with its ability to be modified through chlorination, have led to PVC being used in a diverse range of applications.
PVC is commonly used in building products, including window frames, floor and wall coverings, roofing sheets, and linings for tunnels, swimming pools, and reservoirs. It is also found in vinyl products such as toys, car interiors, shower curtains, and flooring. Additionally, PVC is used in medical applications, such as intravenous bags and tubing, due to its ability to withstand sterilization and its flexibility.
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Recycled plastic resin is often used for food packaging and can be reclaimed and moulded into new forms
Plastic resins are versatile and widely used in manufacturing, packaging, and countless other applications. Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene are some of the most common plastic resins, each with unique properties and uses.
There are seven main types of plastic resins, each with its own unique characteristics, making it suitable for different uses. Recycled plastic resin is one of these types and is often used for food packaging. It can be moulded into new forms, such as food containers, without being damaged by heat. This makes it a good option for creating new packaging. However, there are concerns about the safety of using recycled plastics in food packaging due to the risk of contamination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of plastics used in food packaging and has approved the use of some recycled resins for food contact. For example, recycled PET is used in mono-layer food-contact packaging, and recycled HDPE is used in mono-layer and co-extruded bottles for dry food. The FDA provides guidance and considers each proposed use of recycled plastic on a case-by-case basis to ensure the purity and safety of the material for food-contact applications.
To address concerns about contamination, the FDA requires stringent tests to demonstrate compliance with guidelines. The recycling process must remove any possible incidental contaminants to a level that prevents migration from the plastic to food. This is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety of recycled plastic resin for food packaging applications.
Overall, recycled plastic resin plays a significant role in food packaging, providing an opportunity to reuse materials and create new forms of packaging. However, strict regulations and testing are necessary to ensure the safety of these recycled materials for food-contact use.
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Frequently asked questions
There are hundreds of different plastic resins, each with different characteristics and uses.
Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene are some of the most common plastic resins.
Yes, resins can also be naturally occurring and are derived from plants and insects. Examples include shellac, amber, and rosin.
Plastic resins are used in a wide range of applications, including manufacturing, packaging, food containers, automotive components, and more.
Plastic resins are created through a process called cracking, where high heat breaks down hydrocarbons. Different compounds are then formed into chains, known as polymers, which give rise to plastics with varying characteristics.
